Rebecca Brown

Creating an unforgettable European weekend getaway can involve a lot of planning and preparation to ensure that it runs as smoothly as possible. While you can’t plan for everything, it’s a good idea to be as prepared as possible so that your weekend getaway is thoroughly enjoyable.

This guide provides you with five ideas to create an unforgettable European weekend getaway!

Choose a Foodie Destination

One great tip to bear in mind when creating your idyllic European getaway is to choose a foodie destination.

Europe is home to some of the most incredible food capitals of the world, so you’ll definitely want to make sure you do plenty of research before you decide on your final destination.

There are thousands of apps, websites and blog posts which will provide you with invaluable information about which foodie destinations are the best in Europe, as well as the many restaurants and food tours available in each place.

Whether you plan a trip to France for the decadent cakes, cheeses and pastries, voyage to Italy to indulge in some rich pasta dishes, or head to Germany for an abundance of meat, you’re sure to have an unforgettable European weekend getaway when it comes to food.

Do Your Research to Avoid Disappointment

Similarly to the point above about doing your research when it comes to food, you should also make sure to conduct thorough research in general before your trip.

There’s nothing worse than arriving at a destination to discover that you’ve visited during the low season where almost everything is shut most of the time.

Places like Prague experience ‘low seasons’ during the winter, when most of their parks and even a lot of museums aren’t open for long during the day. While you’ll be able to get around these inconveniences once you’ve arrived, it’s still better to plan ahead and do your research to avoid disappointment when embarking on a weekend break in Europe.

Spend as Much Time Outdoors as Possible

Another great tip to bear in mind when visiting Europe is that there are so many opportunities to spend time outside; something you should really take advantage of during your weekend getaway.

The Camino de Santiago in Spain for example, is a great way to head outdoors and spend time being immersed in picturesque scenery and abundant nature.

You don’t necessarily have to hike the entire pilgrimage route either; simply wandering through some sections of the trail is sure to leave you feeling revitalised, refreshed and relaxed.

Try Something New

When most people go on holiday, they usually prefer to spend most of their time relaxing and unwinding. While this isn’t a bad thing necessarily, it can often mean that you’re missing out on excellent opportunities to see a new place.

A European weekend getaway should be filled with as much adventure and fun as possible and it can be a great opportunity to get out of your comfort zone and try something new. Even if it’s only something small, it’s still a great idea to do something different in order to make your European weekend break as unforgettable as possible.

When in Switzerland, for example, you might want to try your hand at extreme adrenaline-fuelled sports such as paragliding, skiing or snowboarding. Even if you’ve never done something like it before, trying something new in a different country, can be truly rewarding and is sure to create an everlasting memory of your trip.

Book a Tour to See as Much as Possible

Another idea to bear in mind when creating an unforgettable European getaway trip is to book a tour while you’re there.

Most major cities in Europe have a hop-on hop-off bus service whereby you purchase a certain number of days’ ticket to ride around the city, jumping off at whichever stop takes your fancy.

London is a great place to enjoy taking this type of tour as the metropolis is so huge, you’d be hard-pressed to see it all yourself in one weekend. By taking a tour however, you’re likely to see much more of the city, making your European weekend getaway a truly memorable experience.

Conclusion – an Unforgettable European Getaway

Creating an unforgettable European getaway is sure to be a fun and rewarding process, albeit slightly stressful in order to make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible.

While you can’t prepare for every eventuality, there are some ideas you should bear in mind when creating your European weekend itinerary.

Consider booking tours in advance of your trip and make sure to conduct thorough research about your destination before you book to ensure that it’s the right place for you. You should also make sure you try and spend as much time outdoors when visiting Europe as it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Rebecca is a freelance translator passionate about her work, and grateful for the travels it has taken her on. She has recently started writing about some of her experiences at RoughDraft.